Fifteen-year-old Jora Hayman lies with her eyes closed, soaking up the rays. She has only been here for a couple of minutes, but already she can feel her skin heating up. The coconut-scented oil that she is wearing fills the air around her, making her feel as though she is on a tropical vacation. But she is not. She is at a tanning salon in Toronto, Ontario, lying in an indoor tanning bed. Why is she there? To get a base tan before she heads down south on vacation.

"I would do a few tanning sessions before going away … under the impression that it was important to get a base tan so that I wouldn't burn," says Hayman, now 21. This attitude is not uncommon. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, a widespread myth about indoor tanning is that a tan protects you from the sun. Other myths: having a tan is healthy, and indoor tanning beds are a safe way to absorb vitamin D. The reality is that indoor tanning is never safe.

"Indoor tanning is not the way to get vitamin D," explains Florentina Stancu-Soare, senior coordinator for Public Issues at the Canadian Cancer Society. "You can do that through just a few minutes of exposure outside in the sun."

Indoor tanning and teens

More Ontario teens are using tanning beds than ever before, according to an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society. The poll revealed that 8% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 use tanning beds, up from 5% six years ago, around the time when Hayman started indoor tanning. However, more and more research is concluding that indoor tanning causes skin cancer. So why are young people continuing to use indoor tanning equipment, despite the risks?

"There are a lot of different factors that contribute," says Stancu-Soare. She suggests that one factor may be a learned behaviour pattern from parents. According to the Ipsos Reid poll, 52% of youth indoor tanners say that their parents pay for their tanning bed use, and 24% say that their parents first introduced them to indoor tanning. "Clearly there's some correlation there in terms of where the initial exposure is coming from," Stancu-Soare says.

Why should parents discourage their teen from indoor tanning?

- The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies UV emitting devices such as tanning beds as carcinogens, meaning that they are a known cause of cancer.

- The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 increases your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75%.

- Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common and deadliest forms of cancer amongst people ages 15 to 29, making youth more vulnerable to the negative effects of indoor tanning.

What is stopping teens from indoor tanning?

In Ontario, children 16 years of age and under are supposed to have written parental consent to use a tanning bed. However, there is no actual legislation in place. "There are voluntary guidelines [for salons to follow] by Health Canada … these are voluntary so there's nothing that prohibits youth from going into the salons," says Stancu-Soare. The guideline states: "Children under 16 years of age should not use tanning equipment. Depending on provincial or territorial regulations, a minor may require written parental consent."

"We know through different studies that we've done that facilities aren't really adhering to the rules," Stancu-Soare adds. Hayman, who used her first tanning bed when she was just 15, is a good example of that. "I knew my mom would never encourage me to go tanning, so I took the consent form home and forged her signature."

How can parents discourage their teens from using indoor tanning equipment?

- Be a good role model: Abstain from using indoor tanning devices yourself. Don't be the source of your teen's initial exposure to indoor tanning and give them healthy behaviour to emulate.

- Use information tools and make the risks a part of the conversation: There are a variety of information tools available to help you teach your teen about the risks of indoor tanning. Just remember to always look for reputable information. "Don't just listen to the tanning salon owner who tells you that [indoor tanning] is safe," advises Stancu-Soare.

- Explore other options: If your teen is adamant on maintaining a sun-kissed glow, they can do so without UV rays. There are a variety of sunless tanners, bronzing makeup, and spray tan options available that will give your teen tanned-looking skin without the health risks.

When it comes to indoor tanning, it is best to steer clear. "We know the dangers are there and while there are a lot of things that you don't have control over, you can control indoor tanning," says Stancu-Soare. "You really just need to like the skin you're in."

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Teens who tan: a deadly habit

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